Abstract
Purpose
This study evaluated the efficacy of oropharyngeal exercises in children with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy.
Methods
Polysomnographic recordings were performed before adenotonsillectomy and 6 months after surgery. Patients with residual OSA (apnea-Hypopnea Index, AHI > 1 and persistence of respiratory symptoms) after adenotonsillectomy were randomized either to a group treated with oropharyngeal exercises (group 1) or to a control group (group 2). A morphofunctional evaluation with Glatzel and Rosenthal tests was performed before and after 2 months of exercises. All the subjects were re-evaluated after exercise through polysomnography and clinical evaluation. The improvement in OSA was defined by ΔAHI: (AHI at T1 − AHI at T2)/AHI at T1 × 100.
Results
Group 1 was composed of 14 subjects (mean age, 6.01 ± 1.55) while group 2 was composed of 13 subjects (mean age, 5.76 ± 0.82). The AHI was 16.79 ± 9.34 before adenotonsillectomy and 4.72 ± 3.04 after surgery (p < 0.001). The ΔAHI was significantly higher in group 1 (58.01 %; range from 40.51 to 75.51 %) than in group 2 (6.96 %; range from −23.04 to 36.96 %). Morphofunctional evaluation demonstrated a reduction in oral breathing (p = 0.002), positive Glatzel test (p < 0.05), positive Rosenthal test (p < 0.05), and increased labial seal (p < 0.001), and lip tone (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Oropharyngeal exercises may be considered as complementary therapy to adenotonsillectomy to effectively treat pediatric OSA.
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Informed consent was obtained from parents, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Sant’ Andrea Hospital.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Villa, M.P., Brasili, L., Ferretti, A. et al. Oropharyngeal exercises to reduce symptoms of OSA after AT. Sleep Breath 19, 281–289 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-014-1011-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-014-1011-z